College life wasn't that easy. Every student has their own issues and concerns.

Surely, money tops these. It's very difficult to budget allowances - for food, school contributions, death aid, school fines, cellphone load, drinking sessions and luxuries. It also creates a controversial aspect in the society as students submit themselves to prostitution to earn for tuition fees.

Emotional distress follows it. Students are involved to different triggering situations. Break-up in a relationship is an obvious example. Students tend not to mind anymore their lessons. Instead, they are at a corner, leaning on the lower wall and crying for their nonsense partners. Another situaton is that when one is forced by his or her parents to take a course he or she doesn't want. Both of these situations can lead to - aside from having no inspiration - suicidal tendencies.

Living in a boarding house or dormitory can also be included. Yes, it has a benefit. That is, learning to be independent. But there are more disadvantages. Aside from the usual home sick, are the tasks you are supposed to carry out - from cooking your own food to laundry. And when you're febrile and sick, you have to care for yourself alone.

Because of these stressing moments in college, I think we can also employ what we are learning in school. That is to promote, improve and enhance our coping mechanisms - the 12 S in managing stress: self-awareness, self-debriefing, speaking-out, scheduling, stress reduction exercises, smiling, siesta, socialization, sports and recreation, songs and sounds, sensation techniques and spirituality.

It's good we have friends and barkadas too. To laugh with and be partners in crime. Bwahahaha! For us Mae, Cleo and the gang are:

Food. On weekends, we try to meet. Go to one place. Either to a friend's house or just around the city. And have something to eat and gulp. Hmmmm. One time, we had our lunch at a friend's place. After it, we had a singing session. I mean, that videoke fever! La la la la la! We had also this favorite restaurant. And a favorite dish. The grilled chicken. In our almost everyday lunches here, there's no need to calculate for our bills anymore because we already know the exact cost of the foods served to us. And after examination-marathons - well, we call it like that 'cause in a day, we can have three long examinations straight with no break or interval - is a celebration at Chowking. We order lauriats. Plus extra rices. And lot of chili oils. Wooooh. This isn't completed without our tons of laughs in different pitches. Hahahahaha! And take note! We also have gossips and asaran mode in between.

And the other one is...

PHOTO SHOOT!

The photos were taken at high noon. We decided to do this photo shoot after our lunch after a seminar on job employment. It was just a quick photo shoot as we had to attend a practice for our clinical graduation at 1 pm.

My favorites are nature and travel photography and I also want to learn event and fashion photography. I hope this would be a great start. And oh! I don't have that good, proper and right camera yet.

What can I say? A long journey (like studying in college) definitely needs a break, a series of it!

I do hope as talented a writer as you are, you use it to do great things in your life. Life will n never be easy, but sometimes, our lives are what we make them. You are young and supposed to enjoy having fun with your friends. Just stay focused on who you are and what you want to do with your life. Take care.